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Christian Ayala-Ortiz
I have experience working with NGS data and have performe a wide array of analysis using bioinformatics. Currently working with metabolomics data and looking for ways to integrate it with other multiomics. Actively developing myself to become a bioinformatician/data scientist by improving my programming skills. I am motivated to pursue a career as a computational biologist applying multiomics approaches to better understand biological systems.
Education
PhD. Student, Environmental Science (minor Ecosystem Genomics)
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
current - 2021
- Focused on the development of software pipelines for the analysis and visualization of metabolomics data
- Using multiomics data to understand how changes in resource availability affect soil ecosystems
- Major Advisor: Dr. Malak Tfaily
M.S., Entomology and Plant Pathology
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
2019 - 2017
- Thesis title: Comparative genomics of six species of Deltocephalinae leafhoppers to discover vector competence-related genes
- Major Advisor: Dr. Astri Wayadande
B.S., Engineering in Biotechnology
University of the Armed Forces
Sangolqui, Ecuador
2016 - 2009
- Thesis title: Molecular characterization of Globisporangium sp. populations obtained from New York City ornamental greenhouses during 2014 using SSR microsatellites.
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Tfaily Laboratory
University of Arizona
current - 2021
- Testing the use of retention time prediction using ML algorithms for improving metabolomics annotation
- Developing a Shiny app for the analysis of untargeted metabolomics data
- Developed MetaboDirect, a data analysis pipeline for direct injection FT-ICR MS data
Research Scientist
Hagen Laboratory
Oklahoma State University
2020 - 2019
- Differential gene expression analysis of two species of burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.).
- Native RNA-seq and cDNA sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ MinION.
- Analysis of RNA modifications in the transcriptome of the Apis mellifera using native RNA-seq
Graduate Research Assistant
Wayadande Laboratory
Oklahoma State University
2019 - 2017
- Assembly and annotation of leafhopper genomes and transcriptomes
- Silencing of genes using interference RNA (RNAi)
Intern
Garzon Laboratory
Oklahoma State University
2015 - 2015
- Molecular characterization of Globisporangium spp. obtained from ornamental greenhouses of New York using SSRs.
Traineeships and Fellowships
National Science Foundation Traineeship
BRIDGES NRT
University of Arizona
current - 2021
- The BRIDGES NSF Research Traineeship is a competitive program in Ecosystem Genomics for students in participating graduate programs.
Roots for Resilience Program Fellow
Data Science Institute
University of Arizona
2021 - 2021
- Program trains selected graduate students in the use of open science and computational infrastructure
Poster and Oral Presentations
MetaboTandem And MetaboDirect: Software Pipelines for the Analysis of High Throughput Metabolomics Data for Complex Environmental Samples
AGU Fall Meeting
Chicago, IL
2022
Stable isotope labelling to trace litter degradation pathways: A view into the carbon cycling processes occurring in a peat bog
AGU Fall Meeting
New Orleans, LA
2021
Comparative analysis of the Deltocephaline leafhopper transcriptomes for the elucidation of vector competence genes
The Plant & Animal Genome Conference XXVIII
San Diego, CA
2020
Exploring the Deltocephaline leafhopper transcriptomes, a comparative analysis for the elucidation of vector competence genes.
Entomology 2019 (ESA Annual meeting)
St. Louis, MO
2019
Selection of an internal reference gene for functional genomics or gene expression analysis in Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
67th Annual Meeting of the ESA SW Branch
Tulsa, OK
2019
- Third place - Graduate poster competition
Looking for vector competence genes: Transcriptome comparison of vector and non-vector Deltocephaline leafhoppers
11th Annual Arthropod Genomics Symposium (AGS)
Urbana, IL
2018
Publications
- Ayala-Ortiz, C., Graf-Grachet, N., Freire-Zapata, V., Fudyma, J., Hildebrand, G., AminiTabrizi, R., Howard-Varona, C., Corilo, Y. E., Hess, N., Duhaime, M., Sullivan, M., & Tfaily, M. (2023). MetaboDirect: An Analytical Pipeline for the processing of FTICR-MS-based Metabolomics Data. BioRxiv, 2022.2006.2010.495699. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.10.495699 (Accepted in Microbiome) - Leewis, M.-C., Lawrence, C. R., Schulz, M. S., Tfaily, M. M., Ayala-Ortiz, C. O., Flores, G. E., Mackelprang, R., & McFarland, J. W. (2022). The influence of soil development on the depth distribution and structure of soil microbial communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 174, 108808. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108808 - Ayala-Ortiz, C. O., Farriester, J. W., Pratt, C. J., Goldkamp, A. K., Matts, J., Hoback, W. W., Gustafson, J. E., & Hagen, D. E. (2021). Effect of food source availability in the salivary gland transcriptome of the unique burying beetle Nicrophorus pustulatus (Coleoptera: Silphidae). PLOS ONE, 16(9), e0255660. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255660
Community Involvement
Data Carpentries Instructor
N/A
N/A
current - 2019
Helper
ResBazaar
University of Arizona
2022